Beckett To Make Honest Effort At His Rehab

Josh Beckett couldn't say when he'd pitch again. He didn't even want to guess. What he did know with certainty on Friday was the manner in which he'd get back on the mound.

When Beckett begins his rehabilitation program in earnest next weekend in Los Angeles, he'll do so keeping the term "full disclosure" in mind. Before being diagnosed with a sprained elbow ligament on Thursday, Beckett admitted to being less than forthcoming with the coaching and training staffs about his elbow.

"I was telling them what they wanted to hear so I could get out there and they didn't pull me," said Beckett, who rejoined the team Friday after being examined in Birmingham, Ala., by Dr. James Andrews a day earlier. "It was probably stupid on my part. It's my fault. There's no blame anywhere else but me."

Beckett will resume a throwing program after a week of rest. He will miss no less than three weeks and won't know the actual severity of the sprain until he completes the rehab and starts pitching at full strength again.

"I don't want to rush," Beckett said. "I want to be out there as much as anybody wants me to be, but I'm not going to tear myself up. I have to take this thing slow and get back to 100 percent, then I'm going to pitch every fifth day."

NO PENS FOR PENNY

Starter Brad Penny dismissed the notion that not throwing bullpen sessions was the product of a bad back. Two days earlier, manager Jeff Torborg said Penny did not throw off a mound between starts to keep a back strain from flaring up.

Though Penny has undergone treatment for back stiffness, he said he hasn't adhered to a regular bullpen work schedule since he was in the minors.

"When I don't throw bullpens, I feel great," Penny said. "If I throw bullpens, sometimes I may be a little sore. ... I'm not a bullpen guy. I can throw strikes. I don't need to go. If I need to work on something, I may go light one day. I like to save my arm strength."

Most pitchers will throw at least once from the bullpen mound between outings to maintain their arm strength. Penny said he plays catch every day and relies on long tossing and rotator cuff work.

REDMAN WORKING HARD

A fractured thumb isn't precluding left-hander Mark Redman from keeping the rest of his arm from atrophying. Redman threw from flat ground for a second consecutive day on Friday. The hope is once his thumb heals he won't require much more additional time to get his arm back in game shape.

The splint on Redman's thumb prevents him from throwing anything other than changeups, albeit with a different grip than the one he normally employs.

"Mainly, I want to keep my arm speed going and simulate throwing fastballs," Redman said. "That way the down time on my arm won't be a problem. [The thumb] is feeling good. There's no pain."

WILLIAMS TO TRIPLE-A

Outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque after Thursday's game, reserve outfielder Gerald Williams had 72 hours to report. Friday, the Marlins learned Williams had no plans of retiring and would join the Isotopes in time for Sunday's game against Iowa.

Because Williams, 36, signed a waiver that precluded him from declining a minor league assignment within 45 days of Opening Day, the Marlins are not responsible for the remainder of his $325,000 major league base salary.

Players with more than five years of big-league service time have the right to refuse a demotion. The Marlins would have owed Williams the entire $325,000 had he not signed the waiver.

During spring training, Al Martin did not agree to that clause. The Marlins ultimately released him and he signed with the Devil Rays.

MANAGERIAL RUMORS

The Sporting News offered three candidates that could replace Torborg if he's fired. Based on their ties to members of the team's front office, Rangers Triple-A manager Bobby Jones, Mariners Triple-A manager Dan Rohn and Devil Rays third-base coach Tom Foley all might receive consideration, the magazine speculated.